Formating a HD with Windows on it

How To's, Questions, and Solutions for problems. This covers anything from computer hardware problems to software recommendations to tutorials for various software programs.

Note: Neither Gametoast nor any of its members/visitors are responsible for any damage to your computer as a result from advice given in this forum. Follow advice at your own risk and be sure to back up any important files.

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
Moving_Target
Master Bounty Hunter
Master Bounty Hunter
Posts: 1670
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2005 10:16 pm
Location: Here

Formating a HD with Windows on it

Post by Moving_Target »

Ok. I'd like to format my old computer's HD and use it as a portable one since i'm disassembling it.

I want to format it but Vista is flipping out because it's running off of it. I haven't got enough time to see if booting from the Vista Ultimate Install disc will work. Any suggestions?
User avatar
[RDH]Zerted
Gametoast Staff
Gametoast Staff
Posts: 2982
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 7:36 am
Projects :: Bos Wars AI - a RTS game
Games I'm Playing :: SWBF2 and Bos Wars
xbox live or psn: No gamertag set
Location: USA
Contact:

Re: Formating a HD with Windows on it

Post by [RDH]Zerted »

You are disassembling the old computer and not its hard drive correct?
What do you think formatting a hard drive does?
What do you mean by a portable hard drive? You do know that an internal hard drive is not designed to be used externally. Unless you want to keep your computer cases open, you will need an external case for the drive.

Yes you can format the drive from almost any boot disk, including any Windows install disk.
Moving_Target
Master Bounty Hunter
Master Bounty Hunter
Posts: 1670
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2005 10:16 pm
Location: Here

Re: Formating a HD with Windows on it

Post by Moving_Target »

Formating the cleaning, like full clean of the drive.Once you format all data for the most is completely gone. And that's what i want to do.
Yes the old computer, which i already did with a friend.
By portable i mean by a HD case and make it safer and easier to carry large amounts of data.
I remember reading somewhere like in an actually computer magazine where it went step by step process on "turning that old HD that's collecting dust into a new portable HD" I've seen my friends do it. One turned a laptop HD into a portable one.
If I'm unable to turn it into a portable one, I'll add it internally. and wipe it from there.

I found a case that should work....
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=2778
User avatar
[RDH]Zerted
Gametoast Staff
Gametoast Staff
Posts: 2982
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 7:36 am
Projects :: Bos Wars AI - a RTS game
Games I'm Playing :: SWBF2 and Bos Wars
xbox live or psn: No gamertag set
Location: USA
Contact:

Re: Formating a HD with Windows on it

Post by [RDH]Zerted »

Ok, I wanted to make sure you knew what you were doing. I don't know of any operating system that can wipe out the hard drive its using. It ends up deleting its basic commands, including deleting, and then its just stuck.

You could boot off the Vista disk to reformat the drive, but it would be easier to wait until you get the case, then format from the other OS.
User avatar
Maveritchell
Jedi Admin
Jedi Admin
Posts: 7366
Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:03 pm

Re: Formating a HD with Windows on it

Post by Maveritchell »

Moving_Target wrote:By portable i mean by a HD case and make it safer and easier to carry large amounts of data.
I remember reading somewhere like in an actually computer magazine where it went step by step process on "turning that old HD that's collecting dust into a new portable HD" I've seen my friends do it. One turned a laptop HD into a portable one.
Yeah. I did that with my old HDD. They sell kits to do 'em & stuff.
crazytieguy
Rebel Warrant Officer
Rebel Warrant Officer
Posts: 306
Joined: Sun Jul 02, 2006 8:02 pm
Projects :: No Mod project currently.
Games I'm Playing :: I have not listed any games yet
xbox live or psn: No gamertag set
Location: Targeting your X-wing.

Re: Formating a HD with Windows on it

Post by crazytieguy »

I'm not 100% sure what you're asking, but this might be what you need:

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

You need to burn it to a CD and boot from it though. :|
Moving_Target
Master Bounty Hunter
Master Bounty Hunter
Posts: 1670
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2005 10:16 pm
Location: Here

Re: Formating a HD with Windows on it

Post by Moving_Target »

For the most part i know what I'm doing. If not i got friends who do know.

Thanks tieguy but would not help me.

@Maveritchell: yeah. I think i linked one in my post.
Post Reply